Find out about jobs and work life in the Gulf

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

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Planning to relocate to the Gulf for better job opportunities? Consider all the pros and cons before you say ‘yes’ to the offer. A look at the job market, latest hiring trends, business outlook & what to expect once you get there.

Planning to relocate to the Gulf for better opportunities? Dreaming of enjoying a better lifestyle and new luxuries? Or wondering if it would be worth the effort of getting uprooted from home and starting afresh? With the job market opening up in India and people enjoying better lifestyles than ever before, do the Gulf countries still hold their charm?

We try and get you the answers from consultants and people working and living in Gulf Cooperation Council countries – the United Arab Emirates (includes Dubai), Oman , Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. So, here is the lowdown on the job market, latest hiring trends, the business outlook and what to expect once you get there. (Also read: Are you prepared to work in the Gulf?)

Sectors in focus

According to Bayt.com that conducts a number of surveys in this region, the most attractive Gulf countries are: the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The top industries across the Gulf region attracting the best talent today are banking/finance (34%), telecommunications (33%) and construction (31%).

Oil, gas and petrochemicals is, however, traditionally a strong industry in this region, given the rich natural resources available. “Our survey shows that the oil, gas and petrochemicals is a regional leader in terms of employee satisfaction, employee experience and perception of professionals employed in other industries,” says Suhail Masri, VP - sales, Bayt.com.

Business outlook 2013

Bayt’s Consumer Confidence Index survey for the year shows a positive outlook, with 44% saying their country’s economy will be better, 50% saying business conditions will be better, and 34% stating more jobs will be available during this timeframe. (Also read: Is relocating for a new job worth it?)

Says SK Tandon, currently a business consultant and strategist in Kuwait, “Development activities are picking up in Dubai, Qatar, KSA (Saudi Arabia) and Kuwait. Although in the last two years, around 30% of manpower was repatriated, mainly from Dubai, this year further repatriations are not expected."

“Experts believe the financial position in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is very strong as the oil prices are quite high. If political stability continues as at present, several investments as well as developmental activities can be expected in the years to come.”

In Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the workforce requirement is expected to increase at least by 10% as compared to last year. However, there is a changing trend as these countries emphasise on prioritising employement of their nationals now.

Salary trends

According to an industry survey by Bayt, the top industries as per salary packages at present are oil, gas and petrochemicals (48%), followed by banking/ finance (24%) and airlines (23%).

In Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, due to the high competition for securing projects, salary trends are expected to remain the same as last year. This is one of the reasons why recruitment from India has come down, as the salary structure in India is steadily improving and working conditions are more relaxed here. Currently, west Asia is doing a lot of hiring from Nepal, Philippines and Egypt.

Ravish CK, director and head – India, Virtus HR Solutions Pvt Ltd, however, says, “Most expats and particularly Indians come in with a compensation (package) and added benefits which give a basic salary and allowances for housing and transportation. Apart from this there are tickets for home countries, gratuity, health insurance and bonus (mostly based on performance). Most importantly, there is no tax on an individual’s income.” So, there are big benefits still to be gained from working here.

Vikrant Kumar, senior procurement officer, Alstom Saudi Arabia Transport and Power Ltd, agrees with this saying, “Good salary packages can still be found. Also, the biggest advantage is that the salary is tax free.”

The dark side

On the flip side, Indians/foreigners are not generally considered at par with locals. “Due to autocracy, local laws are very tough. Expatriates, irrespective of their positions, have absolutely no powers,” says SK Tandon. “The penalties are very harsh and decisions are taken very fast. Due to these conditions, expatriate workers remain under constant pressure and tension.”

“In government offices as well as in private companies, priority is given to local nationals, and locals do not like outsiders in Saudi Arabia,” says Kumar.

What about adjusting to life there? “Acclimatising to working conditions in Saudi was the toughest amongst all Gulf countries,” says Mohammed Salamuddin, operator, Van Oord, who has worked at a number of construction sites across the Gulf countries.

“Thanks to the more modern outlook in Dubai, Fujairah and Oman, conditions were much better there than in other Gulf countries.” “The quality of life, however, is given full priority. Every person has a decent place to stay at and work from. Workers are fully safety conscious and no compromise is made on this front. Infrastructure too is globally the best here,” says Ravish CK.

The Gulf countries come with their benefits and some drawbacks too. So, consider all the pros and cons before you say ‘yes’ to the offer.

Dos and Don'ts for job seekers

Get a job before you go: You can negotiate much better terms and conditions. Plus, you’ll get relocation expenses

Getting the visa: You need a local sponsor or an employer to get a residency visa, after which you get a work permit. You would need to undergo a detailed medical examination too

Read the contract carefully: Be clear about what is offered and expected

Find out more: Before accepting an offer, speak or ask to be able to speak to people in similar positions

Workplace etiquette in the Gulf

Handshakes are the norm and can last a long time. Wait for the other to withdraw their hand first

If you are a male introduced to a woman, wait and see if she extends her hand. If not, do not try to shake hands

In business contexts, people are generally addressed by their first names, with the title. For example, Mr Ramesh

A person’s word holds a lot more value than a written agreement. So, be careful of what you promise — not doing what you say results in loss of ‘honour’

Muslims face Mecca five times daily in prayer, for which work and meetings may accordingly have breaks

During the month of Ramadan, most work and offices come to a near standstill

Most offices are closed on Thursday and Friday, and the working week starts on Saturday